Enhanced Remote Data Logging for Electric Powered Wheelchairs – Phase II

Principal Investigator: Dan Ding, PhD

Co-Investigators: Rory A. Cooper, PhD; Juan Jose Vazquez Lopez, MS
 

Funding Source: Paralyzed Veterans of America Fellowship

2005–2006
 

We have completed the prototype design of an Activity TeleMonitor (ATM) system targeting wheelchair users. The ATM system is comprised of two separate parts: a wheelchair-mounted unit (WMU) and a stationary unit at a remote host station. The WMU incorporates a number of sensors to measure parameters related to wheelchair usage and activity, safety, and context of use. It provides continuous collection and evaluation of multiple activities, intelligent detection of emergency and abnormal behaviors, and a cellular connection to a remote host station. The bench testing was conducted on the seat function usage, and the cellular communication performance.
 

A web-based application was developed at the host station which allows clinical professionals to access the incoming data from the WMU, examine usage patterns and abnormal behaviors, and make requests of modification to the sensor limits and data transmission. The system is being tested with human subjects.
The future plan is to conduct clinical trials based on the system and see if providing appropriate feedback will help improve compliance.